Kut Shopping Center Fire (2025)

The Kut Shopping Center Fire (2025) was a major fire disaster that occurred in the early hours of the night at the five-story “Hypermarket” shopping center in the city of Kut, the capital of Wasit Governorate in eastern Iraq. The blaze resulted in extensive loss of life and significant material damage. During the fire, numerous people inside the shopping center became trapped in the building and perished due to thick smoke.

_{Kut Shopping Center Fire, 17 July 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)}

The fire began in the early hours of the night in the city of Kut, the capital of Wasit Governorate in eastern Iraq, at the five-story “Hypermarket” shopping center. At the time of the fire, the building contained both civilian shoppers and families dining in restaurants. Initial assessments indicate that the fire broke out simultaneously in the supermarket and restaurant sections of the shopping center. Video footage shared on social media by eyewitnesses showed the building engulfed in flames and firefighting teams working intensively throughout the night.

According to an official statement by Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, 61 people lost their lives in the fire. Most of the victims were found to have suffocated due to thick smoke while trapped in restrooms. Health officials reported that identities had been confirmed for 59 of the bodies, but one corpse was so severely burned that its identity could not be determined. Additionally, at least 11 people were reported missing, and no contact has been established with them.

Following the fire alarm, numerous firefighting and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. Firefighting units worked throughout the night to extinguish the blaze and rescue civilians trapped inside the building. During the rescue efforts, access to some bodies proved difficult, and several remained buried under rubble. Acting on instructions from Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, fully equipped medical teams were sent to the site, and Interior Minister Abu al-Mir al-Shammari was assigned to conduct an on-site inspection.

No official explanation has yet been issued regarding the cause of the fire. However, Wasit Governor Muhammad Jamal Mayyahi announced that preliminary investigation findings would be made public within 48 hours. The governor also confirmed that legal proceedings had been initiated against the owner of the shopping center. Meanwhile, Prime Minister al-Sudani ordered a comprehensive and technical investigation into the causes of the incident and any potential negligence, with the aim of implementing measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Immediately after the incident, a three-day official period of mourning was declared in Wasit Governorate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye issued a written statement offering condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and extending sympathies to the people of Iraq.